An Amateur Drama Group

2010-2011

The 2010 season marked a return to traditional pantomime for the Bart Players with Cinderella, directed by Simon Pyper. This was a pantomime for the High School Musical/Glee generation with modern songs and energetic dancing and was much enjoyed by children and adults alike. It was performed at the Canon Lindsay Hall on 1-4 December 2010.

Our 2011 festival entry was once again directed by Gillian Porter and on this occasion the Bart Players produced “Present Laughter” by Noel Coward. This is one of Coward’s best loved comedies, written as a vehicle for the star himself.

Set in the early 1940’s, Present Laughter follows a few days in the life of the self -obsessed matinee idol, Garry Essendine, as he prepares to travel to Africa on tour. His line in harmless infatuated debutantes is tolerated, but playing closer to home is not. Just before he leaves for Africa the full extent of his misdemeanours is discovered and merry havoc ensues.

The Summer show for 2011 was “Off the Hook” by Derek Benfield and it was once again directed by Brendan Fegan. The show played in Ballyearl and Portrush Summer seasons in August as usual, and was presented in the Canon Lindsay Hall in September.

A comedy in the best tradition of summer theatre, this show was well received by audiences at home and away. New faces and old hands worked well together to present a production to be proud of.

Fred and Charlie “spring” Harold Spook from prison so they can get their hands on his loot from a previous robbery, unfortunately Harold is the wrong man… there were two Harold Spooks in the same prison! To make matters worse this one is a complete twit. Fred and Charlie bring Harold to the hotel where the other “Harold” had hidden the money. Trying to find the money is hazardous, they have to contend with Norah the hotel manager’s man-eating wife, her gloomy sister Edna and the fearsome Mrs Fletcher-Brewer. An ingenious turn of events lets them all off the hook, and this riotous farce ends as hilariously as it began.
This show was presented in the Courtyard Theatre, Ballyearl on 5-6 August 2011, in the Town Hall in Portrush on 17-20 August 2011 and in the Canon Lindsay Hall on 2nd and 3rd September 2011.